Ukraine launches long-range strikes on military, energy infrastructure in Russia

Kyiv: A series of long-range Ukrainian attacks hit targets deep inside Russia on Wednesday, part of Kyiv’s efforts to raise the costs of the war for the Kremlin by striking energy facilities and military industries. President Volodymyr Zelensk­yy said Ukraine’s forces struck military and energy infrastructure sites, including a military factory that supplied Russian drones and missiles parts.

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian FP-5 Flamingo long-range missiles had hit the facility in Cheboksary, in Chuvashiya 900km from the front line. 

Oleg Nikolayev, the head of Chuvashiya, confirmed the missile attack. The Astra online news outlet reported the Ukrainian strike hit the VNIIR-Progress plant that produces antennas for drones.

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces struck a refinery in Russia’s Samara, where Governor Vyacheslav Fedo­rishchev said industrial plants were damaged by drone stri­k­es. Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s Security Service had targeted two oil facilities in Russia’s Vladimir, 700km from the front line. In Russia-occupied Crimea, a Ukrainian drone hit the building housing a huge panorama painting depicting the defence of the city during the 19th century Crimean War. Mikhail Razvozhayev, Krem­lin-appointed head of Sevas­to­pol, said the painting by Franz Rubo was destroyed.

—AP